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cathrinevinther's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
Minor: Self harm
abbie_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
If you’re looking for a quick contemporary read that tackles tough issues, consider The Pact We Made by Layla AlAmmar. Content warning for sexual assault and child abuse, so tread carefully, but this book sheds light on the issue of sexual assault and trauma in a conservative society.
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Dahlia, approaching 30, is being pressured by her mother and Kuwaiti society at large to marry. But no one outside her family knows about the trauma she’s grappled with since she was 15, which is impacting her decisions and life choices. She feels like she can’t talk about her past though, since her family’s honour would be put at risk in the patriarchal society they live in.
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I loved @zubscovered’s review of this one, as she points out that the book doesn’t try to make sweeping (and harmful) generalisations about Arab women. This is the story of one woman, Dahlia, her trauma, and the courageous way she processes it and lives her life with and beyond that trauma.
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I thought Dahlia, her mother and father were very well developed, but two other main characters, Dahlia’s friends Mona and Zaina, did feel a bit lacking. There was space to expand on their storylines and personalities more, I didn’t feel like they added much to the story in the end.
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Nevertheless, it is one I’d recommend especially if you like MeToo stories and are looking to expand your perspectives!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
n_asyikin_'s review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Depicted the consequences of patriachy & conservatism on a victim of sexual assault via the continual re-traumatizing from victim blaming.
At times, I did think that Dahlia's perspective bordered on orientalism, i.e., misplacing criticism about the issue on hand (e.g. the seeming implication that Western culture will provide her with solutions). But, she was entraped with processing her trauma. So nuances relating to criticism of a culture were something you're not gonna get with this book despite it being quite a central element. That being said, this book was more of a statement , of an account, rather than an analysis of such element.
Ableist language was used to depict Dahlia's attempt at processing what she'd been through, influenced by the stigma relating to mental illness. The pervasiveness of ableism extended in how the society (e.g. her family & school) treated her as if she was a secret to be kept instead of a person needing care; a lot of what Dahlia went through were unfortunately common in this ableist world.
"The Pact We Made" depicted the gruelling process of what happened after a trauma. The eloquent narration rooted in introspection, often working in beautiful metaphors, showed views relating to the consequence of societal failure to protect its individuals particular when the society valued them unequally.
At times, I did think that Dahlia's perspective bordered on orientalism, i.e., misplacing criticism about the issue on hand (e.g. the seeming implication that Western culture will provide her with solutions). But, she was entraped with processing her trauma. So nuances relating to criticism of a culture were something you're not gonna get with this book despite it being quite a central element. That being said, this book was more of a statement , of an account, rather than an analysis of such element.
Ableist language was used to depict Dahlia's attempt at processing what she'd been through, influenced by the stigma relating to mental illness. The pervasiveness of ableism extended in how the society (e.g. her family & school) treated her as if she was a secret to be kept instead of a person needing care; a lot of what Dahlia went through were unfortunately common in this ableist world.
"The Pact We Made" depicted the gruelling process of what happened after a trauma. The eloquent narration rooted in introspection, often working in beautiful metaphors, showed views relating to the consequence of societal failure to protect its individuals particular when the society valued them unequally.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Ableism, and Mental illness
Minor: Self harm
emmaisreadingabook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
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